Rivers State gets chief judge, open assembly, reinstate lecturers

Daisy Okocha

As part of activities marking the inauguration of the Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, NEW government in Rivers State, the House of Assembly opens on Monday, June 1, 2015.

Governor of Rivers State, Barrister Nyesom Wike in his speech on Friday, May 29, 2015 said, “By the grace of God, and as an initial step towards restoring its autonomy, I shall on Monday, June 1 2015, proclaim the opening of the 8th Session of the Rivers State House of Assembly in its proper location and venue to enable our elected legislators to perform their law-making and oversight functions. Under my watch, never will the Rivers State House of Assembly be subjected to sitting at Government House or any other improper venue in utter disregard of its autonomy,” Wike said.

The House of Assembly had been closed since Tuesday, July 8, 2015 after a fight in the chambers.

New chief judge emerges

Another lingering crisis in Rivers State had been that of the judiciary as there was not chief judge.

The former governor, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi wanted Peter Agumagu while Daisy Okocha was the choice of the National Judicial Council, NJC.

“We had severally condemned the prolonged absence of a State Chief Judge and closure of our courts and promised that these issues will not remain unresolved beyond a day after today. Therefore, in fulfillment of our promise to reopen our courts and restore normalcy to the State’s judiciary, I hereby, in exercise of my powers under section 271(4) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, appoint the most senior High Court Judge in Rivers State Judiciary, the Honourable Justice Daisy Okocha as the Acting Chief Judge of Rivers State,” Wike said.

He declared that Daisy Okocha would be sworn-in on Monday 1st June 2015, after which she will be required to immediately terminate the dark moments of the ignoble judicial history of Rivers State by reopening the courts for business.

“Under our watch, never again will the doors to justice be deliberately and punitively shut against the people of Rivers State.”

The governor also, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by section 281 (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, appointed the Honourable Justice Christy Gabriel-Nwankwo, as the Acting President of the Rivers State Customary Court of Appeal following the indefinite suspension by the National Judicial Council (NJC) of the holder of that office.

Justice Christy will also be sworn-in on Monday 1st June 2015.

RSUST lecturers return

Lecturers of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, RSUST who were disengaged from service “on account of their membership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU and participating in a legitimate strike called by the union.”

The governor announced that in exercise of the powers vested in him as Visitor, he directs the management of the school to immediately recall and reinstate them to their duty posts with all their rights and privileges restored.